Article handling machine



July 28, 1953 w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28,1953 w. M. PARRY 6, 7

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 1awwafw v July 28, 1953 w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 v w .1021 J60 ll plu "1/0 JNVEN TOR.

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July 28, 1953 w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 8, 1953w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 .WKMI

July 28, 1953 w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet e Z64 {3.15a?? N 5 mg .262 k Z54 75 :1 575 INVENTOR.

WM %M//% "3% July 28, 1953 w. M. PARRY 2,646,870

ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR."-1 @7 7 i atentecl july 28,

ICE

"ARTICLE HANDLINGFMACHI'NE 2 Illinois Applicatioh'MarhlO, 1948,serialNo. 14,073

( Cl-';= 198- '3v0') 'l his invention relates to rarti'leihandlingsapparatus, and concerns particularly machines; for rearranging :01refiling. containers such glass .1' ars or cans, -inconnectiomwiththeprocessingnr paka'ging thereof.

"the processing or various types o'fsarticlesgit frequently-is necessaryto [effect rt-he rearrangemerit thereof so as 'to facilitateorgcomp'leteithe various 1 processing operations. For eXample, 1' in theprocessing-and packaging of :foodeontainers, it mayi hecome anecessaryeto rearrange a :disordered mass:-zof thevcontainers into:.a: singlezormultipleKile-sequence; so .as to "."enable :the ;containers -tos be'furthenprooessed orzpackaged with facilityendadi-spatch.

:Int' instances wherein; such." arrangement 1 118711- clli'ngvisefiectell'zat': ?high speed, iOIFhlgh capacity, difficulty isencountered .zin the 5 jamming or breaking 015 43116 iarticlesubeinghandled, particularly where they are :of' frangiblematurersuchrzas glass3' ars. :"Ihe satisfactory and highispeeol shandling=of glass j ars isfurthericomplicated by .reason of the 'iacttthat the'..j:ars,;may:;at.rtimesfibe either filled or empty, andmay-alsosbetreither {dry or :wet' as'ithey are transmitted :betweenva-rious processing-mechanisms.

It t-is obj eot -=of the present invention topprovide van;anti'lefhandlingapparatus, ."ior: :insta-llations :ofJt-h'e' type :aboveset uforth,:;of improved constructionsand. improvedoperating-:Lcharaeteristics.

:More "specifically :statednit i-is :anvrohjectxof; pthepresentrinvention to :provide :a high :speedJhandling-z or rearranging.-apparatus, particularly for use with frangihleroontainersisuch1as glass;ars, vtheneinzithe roontainers twill rbje rearranged-with facility 2and- :dispatch, and with i, a minimum 10f jamming, :hreaki-ng, ortipping-of the 1 containers being transmitted .through :the machine. I

. .A iurther -obiectof the invention .is,,to. provide an improvedarticle handling or rearranginglmachine, of theitypedefined whereintheoutput pattern of the machine maybe, within "limits, ad-

justed as required; wherein the-containersmay be handled at high speedeither filled or"ernpty,or dry or wet; an'dwherein'the machine. partsmay be more:readilyi'fabricated:and assemblemiand will be more durablein -operation,.:in*respettto the capacity of the-machine.

"A still further objecto'f the invention 'is to provide "an improvedarticle-handling *maehine pan ticularlyfor 'containers' and the like,"whieh-=may be'readilyadapted for-use with eithen-metal cans or glassiarsyas=occasion=may reqi1ire "Various other obiiectsyadyantages andfeatures ing specificatiom when taken in I connection with theaccompanying dra ingsiwherein certainnpreferredembodiments are. setforth for "purposes :of

' withzpartseof the mama-frame:structure'zbnoken of the invention Willbe apparent fromithe follow- 7555 away, fiillustrating:the'irelationships :betweenzthe infeed zandmutfeed rconveyors, andtheir associe atedrparts.

, Eli's-Isis ail-front view 11f theJmachine, on the scale of Riel-.12;

Fig. :4 isianienlarged detai-lyiewofthereciproeatingsfinger:ibarnandaasso iatedp f r ingthe-ztransierzmeohanism\for transferringtheiarticiles between wtheiinfeedland-discharge conveyors;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of afpart'ofthe mechanism yofeEig. \4,taken :as indicated lbyathe linex5- -5sthereoi;

dfligvfi sis ian enlarged: detail view of .a vibrator d vice,.-iorminga,-part Qfzthe'transfermeans;

.Fig. J flaiseanenlarged partial view sQf .the front portion (of the:machine, similar-"to ,Eig. ,Lw and more part1cularlyiillustrating the.drive means .for'

the vaniousv-maohine parts Flg. 8 is a sectional .-view-.-.of.:the-structuresof Ei '1, takeniasindieated-Wby .thelinej-iii thereof;

JFig; 9 is. agsectiomdeltail of the structure. indicatedt hyathelineTB-H-oiFig. 8;

,(Figsio isnrurther sectional .view of thestrucr lEighl'liis aifurtherenlarged sectional view o'f thefldrive :mechanism. for therec'iprocating'finger bar, taken .asffindicate'di'by the jline I |Il ofFig. .10.;

Fig..fI2I is. an exploded view 'QLcertain of the 1 parts ,of Fig. 11

Fig: 13. is. a perspective View of one-ofithefinger or transfer members"Fig;"'14..is a view similar to- -Fig;:'2,fbutfillustratingamodi'fied"embodiment-of transfer means "Fig. 15 isan-enlargedidetail view=ofthe-mechanism hf-Figt 'li Fig. fi is' a" further enlarged detail section*of l 3 ified form of machine structure, in accordance with theinvention; and

Figs. 20 and 21 are enlarged sectional views on the lines 2U20 and 2l-2I, respectively, of Fig. 19.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to the embodimentof Figs. 1-13, there is illustrated a machine particularly adapted tothe high speed handling and rearranging of glass jars, such for exampleas food containers, to which the invention has particular applicability.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the machinecomprises a frame structure upon which is carried an infeed conveyor I2,an outfeed or discharge conveyor [4, and a transfer and rearrangingmechanism, generally indicated by the numeral l6, for transferring thejars between the conveyors, and for effecting the rearrangement thereofin accordance with the desired machine output pattern. In the particularembodiment illustrated the jars are placed upon the infeed conveyor indisordered array, and are delivered from the discharge conveyor M insingle file sequence, for transmission to processing, packaging, orlabeling apparatus, as the case may be.

More specifically, the infeed conveyor comprises an endless metal belt,of suitable fiexible construction, driven in the direction of the arrowin Figs. 1 and 2, and having a width substantially commensurate withthat of the main frame structure. The upper reach of the belt lies uponand is propelled along the frame table I8, the lower reach of the beltreturning thereunder. The belt is supported at its forward end by aseries of rolls 20, 22 and 24, Figs. 1 and '7, the rolls 22 and 24 beingdriven by means presently to be described. The belt is supported at itsrear end by an idle roll 26, the lower belt reach also being supported,in part, by an intermediate idle roll as indicated at 2B.

The outfeed or discharge conveyor belt 14 is relatively more narrow thanthe belt l2, and is driven at a higher rate of speed in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 2, in the operation of the machine. The belt [4 may beof suitable metal flexible link construction. As best shown in Fig. 3,it is supported at its opposite ends upon a pair of rolls 3!] and 32',the latter being propelled by drive mechanism later to be described.

The transfer mechanism It comprises a reciprocating bar 34, Figs. 2 and3, upon which is supported a plurality of guide fingers or transfermembers 36. The bar 34 is slidably mounted at its opposite ends upon theframe structure H by means as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Moreparticularly, the frame structure carries at its upper portion, adjacenteach end of the bar 34, a support plate or bracket 38 which is T-shapedin cross section. The bar 34 is provided at its opposite sides withslide brackets 40, held in position by bolts 42, a support means thusbeing provided to permit the free reciprocation of the bar transverselyof the conveyor l2, or in a direction longitudinally in respect to theconveyor [4. The means for reciprocating the bar, in timed relation withthe operation of the conveyors, will be later described.

The detailed shaping of the transfer fingers 35, and their manner ofmounting, is best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 13. It will be seen thateach of the fingers is provided with an arcuate surface 44 which isinitially engaged by the jars as they are conveyed along the conveyorl2. Each finger is further provided With a pair of arcuate surfaces asindicated at 46 and 48 terminating in a blunt point 5!]. The are ofcurvature of each finger surface 48 is greater than the arc of curvatureof the surface 46, and is so proportioned in res ect thereto as todefine a channel 52 of constant width between each pair of fingers toreceive and guide the jars. More specifically, the outside curvature 46of each finger is swung from the same center as the inside curvature ofthe next adjacent finger, for example as indicated at 46a and 43a inFig. 2, whereby to define a passage 52a between the fingers of uniformwidth along its entire length. The transfer fingers may be formed ofvarious suitable materials, such as fiber or the like, but in theparticular embodiment shown they are in the form of bronze castingssuitably cored as indicated at 54, Fig. 13, to minimize weight.

Each transfer finger is supported from the bar 34 by bolts 56, and ismaintained in spaced relation to the bar by a spacer member 58. Theprovision of the spacer members minimizes the surface of contact betweenthe transfer fingers and the jars, while at the same time locating thefingers, vertically, so that the jars are engaged along their centraland lower portions to minimize tipping. The transfer fingers aresupported so that they well clear the surfaces of the transfer belts, asindicated at 60, Fig. 5.

At the opposite ends of the bar 34 there are provided fingers asindicated at 62, 64 and 66, Fig. 2, which may preferably compriserelatively thin bars of uniform thickness and shaped so as to define jarpassageways of uniform width as indicated, respectively, at 68, 10 and12; the cooperating juxtaposed curved surfaces forming the passagewaysin each instance being swung from a common radius in the same manner aspreviously described in reference to the finger members 36. The fingers62, 64 and 66 are supported from the bar 34 by bolts 14 and spacers 16,Fig. 5, in a manner similar to the mounting of the transfer fingers 3B.

The opposite frame side walls 18 and extending along the table 18 on theopposite sides of the belt 12, and serving as means for retaining thejars on the belt, are provided at their forward ends with guide membersas indicated at 82 and 84, Fig. 2, for guiding the jars, respectively,into the transfer passages 68 and 12.

The positioning of the transfer finger or bar 66 is such that itapproaches but does not contact the side wall structure 80 as thereciprocating bar 34 reaches the limit of its travel leftwardly asviewed in Fig. 3. It will further be noted that the finger 6B issomewhat longer than the other transfer fingers, and that it extends toa position adjacent an abutment and guide bar 86, the mounting andfunction of which will now be described.

The guide bar 86 is supported from a fixed bar 38, forming a part of themain frame of the machine, by means of a series of bolts 90, thedetailed arrangement thereof being shown in Fig. 6. Each bolt hasthreaded connection at its end with the guide bar 86, and is interlockedtherewith by suitable means such as lock nut 92. A rubber washer orgrommet 94 is secured into the fixed frame bar 88, in association witheach bolt may be longitudinally shifted or adjusted in 5 respecttorthefi xed framefmembemitll 3501818 to :ad- Justably position theieuide bar 185- in accordance with the sizenf the..iars,,;.and inaccordance with the 1outputmatterndesired as .-the; j ars .are deliveredfrom the conveyor I4.

.As also indicated in Figs.) and 6 one of the bolts .00; is extended and-i s; ;provided on its end withsan.-armature aflecooperating with a-coilI00 adapted for connection to a suitable source of alternating-currentpower supply. .It will be seen that the-coil-and armature thus form anAC, yibratorsfor,transmittingia rapid vibratory movement to the guidebar 81;. Preferably theseveral support. grommets 94 .for the. support.bolts00 are sufficiently rigid-sothat only da-slightphysicaldisplacement is impartedto the guide bardue o he vibratoryaction.

.An auxiliary-guide .platell02, Fig. .2, :is positioned adj acentthedischar e end of the conveyor 1.4, in juxtapositionto the guid baner-plate 86, the plate 1.102 being adjustably supported on the mainframe of the machine by bolts 404. The guidebars or plates 85 and 102define a passagewayflfltadjacent the discharge end of the conveyor .L4,from .which -.the,jars.are emitted in the operationpf. the machine.

Thedrive means fortheconveyor belts I2 and L4, and for effiectingthecontrolled reciprocation of the transfenfinger support .bar .34, is bestillustrated iniFigs. 7,..8 and 10 .12. .A drive motor I08, Figs. 1 and'3, isjsuitablysupported upon the main frame of the machine, the. motorbeing arranged to effect the operation .of a drive pulley IIO throughthe intermediary ofa change speed gearing .or speed .Variator .l 1,2which may be of any suitable ap rovedconstruction. Pulley H0 is arrangedto driv a flexible chain H4, the upper end of which engages anddrives asprocket H6, Fig. "Lfixed to a shaft .IjI'8, suitably journalled in themachine jrame structure. This shaft car-' ries a pinion I arranged tomesh with and drive a gear I22. fixed to a shaftl24 which carries thebelt'roll 22 previously described. 'Gear1l22 also meshes withand isarranged'to drive a gear I26 carried by a shaft I28 to which the beltroll 24 issecured. "It will be seen thatby reason of the connectionsprovided, as the motor I08 is operated,gears I22 and .l26'wi1lbeactuated at predetermined speed, in accordance withthe'setting of thespeed variator II2 to effect the actuation of the-'belt'rolls 2'2 and 24so as to propel the infeed conveyor belt I Z'as previously described.

"Shaft I24 also carries abevel gear I30, Fig. '7, arranged to mesh witha'bevel pinion I32 secured to a stub shaft carrying a pair of gears asindicated at i'34'and I36. Gear134 meshes with and drives a pinion I 38fixed to a stub shaft I40 which carries a sprocket I 42 arranged toactuate .a. flexible drive chain "I44. As best shown in Fig. 8, thischain extends to and is arranged to .drive a sprocket I45 secured to .ashaft. I48 which carries the drive r011 32, previously described, fordriving the chain .conveyor 14. .It Wfll be seen that by reason of .theconnections described, the conveyor I4 is driven at all timesduringoperation of the nveyor I2, in predetermined speed relationtherewith. Furthermore, thegears I34 and I38 form. a pair ,of removablepickofi gears, -or speed var-iator ,mechanism, by which the speed of theconveyor I4 may be adjusted in respect to the rate of movement of :theponveyor- I2. Preferably, in the operation ofthemachine the :conveyor I4operates at a considerabl igrea-ter speed than the conveyor I2, thelatter being :considerably wider 6and-thereforehavingtayereaterajar.capazcitwfonia given rate of travel.

The :gear 136, reviousiy :mentionednmeshes with and .is arranged todrive a gear T'I50, .'Figs. 10 and 11, fixed'towa :stubshait:I52,-this:stub shaft being suitably. ilournallejd in 5.3, :hub ibracket115-4 forminaapart of-rthefixed zframeistructure.of-ithe machine. At itsopposite endithe sstub eshatt l 52 carries agdrivetmember .155, Figs.:'11 Land l2,: eccentrically carried thereon. HhisLeccent-ric :drivemember operates within :the. lower slot 158 6f ta lever arm1160arrangedlforipivotal mounting 'upbolt .l84.

on the frame of .the;machine. ;More:particularly, the .rlever'isjprovided :adja'cent its centralportion with .a shouldered recesssand slot 482 ar rangedto receive ;a bracket I564, which bracketisr;provided with ,a zprojecting ".pivot pin 1 66. A clamp. screwi- I55: is adaptedto be receivedwithin a -;threaded opening :Iill! formed:in the bracleet I164, whereby the bracket imay xbe adjustably-securedpto the lever arm iIifim-atianydesired position alon thelengthofrthe slotzIBZ.

The pivot pin I486 Liis arranged r to he pivotaily supported withinashub .Is'li2 formed at the ou ter end of a bracket ..I2?4=fixed=*to1themain frame -of the-.machineby boltsal 1:6. =Asabest shown'iin -lilig; 7,bracket I14 is provided.with verticallydisposed slots 11-8 thereinwithin which the securing-bolts I 16 engage, wherebyathe.bracket-may beverticailty adjusted respect :to: the. frame of the machine. Ihe leverarm I is'lfurther provided adjacent its upperiend with aslot: Iarranged-i s'l i'dably receive .a ibracketxmember 1'82 -held againstraxial withdrawal from the -.slot' -by :meansof a headed Bracket 1132 is:secured to the finger support .bar'34 sbyiscrews :I86. pBy reason ofthe connections desci ibedr i t will be seen that operation of the:rgears I'3'5--I 50 causes rotation ofxtheeccentric .IfiBMhich in-tumimparts oscillatory :movement .;to :the leveriarin I160. Movement .of:the .r'lever arm, through th'e bracket 182,. effects the.correspondingmeciprocationof the fingersnpport hare4,.whereby1o1ecipirocate the bar and :the transferifingersaparried thereby atpredetermined .speed and through ..:a predetermined range of travel..fI'he speed inf movement of the :bar 73.4 may be .adjzus'teddoysubstitution :of the gears I:3-,$;.I:5i0., :thesesgears forming apickoffuset, or variatorgforiadjusting the operating speed of the drivenparts. By ladjusting the height of the support-bracket .114 011 theframe of the machinetcoupled withvthenorree; spending adjustment .of;the...bra c'1et 1.64 within the :slot I 52 of;the..-lever.arm j 60, thepivotipo-int of the leverarrn-may be changed whereby zito ad just thethrow or range of travel of the transfer finger support bar.Preferably,-=in-the --operat-ion'-- of the machine, thefinger support"bar 34 reciprocatesrelatively sloW-ly,-by Way of 'illustrationj in theneighborhood of sixtycyclesa-minuterbut' this may be variedto suit-reguirementsgas above set forth. f Referring further to Figsgl and 2,it will The seen that a bridgemember L88 extends across the frametable18, in spaced relation above :the belt I2; the bridge being secured. atits apposite; ends to the table .side walls,..by suitable .means such asbolts I190. The bridge .member -narriesta series of divider abutments I92, there'beingtf our such abutments shown the particular einhodiv mentillustrated. The vabutments .are suspended from the bridge memberby'zsnitable.isecurin means, such .as bolts I94, the abutments at theirlower ends being properly spaced-above the.sur-:

7 face of the belt I2, as in the case of the transfer fingers previouslydescribed.

In the operation of the structure the glass jars, as indicated at I96may be placed onto the belt I2 by hand, by automatic conveyor, or by anyother suitable means. Movement of the infeed belt I2 causes the jars toshift to the left as seen in'Figs. 1 and 2 into engagement with theapproach ends of the several transfer fingers carried by thereciprocating bar 34 of the transfer mechanism. The jars, which assume adisordered array or mass upon the belt I2 when the machine is operatingat or near capacity, slip upon the surface of the belt I2, but are urgedthereby against the ends of the transfer fingers, so that as the fingersare reciprocated the jars gravitate through the several passageways 52,68, III and 12 between the fingers, moving onto the discharge conveyorI4. As previously indicated, this conveyor preferably moves at arelatively high speed, thejars being delivered thereby from the machinein predetermined pattern, single file arrangement in the particularembodiment illustrated, between the guide plates 86 and I02. Preferablythe upper-surface of the discharge belt I4 is very slightly below thesurface of the belt I2, so as to facilitate the movement of the jars.

The abutments I92 inhibit lateral motion of the jars upon the belt I2,thereby preventing the lateral swinging of the jar mass with thereciprocation of the transfer fingers, so as to facilitate the passageof the jars along the transfer finger passageways. The lateral motion ofthe transfer fingers, coupled further with the vibratory action of thevibrator I00, promotes the passage of the jars between the transferfingers in an orderly fashion, at high capacity, but with a minimum ofbreakage or tipping of the jars being conveyed, and with a minimum ofjamming. The structure is satisfactorily operable upon the jars, eitherin their filled or unfilled, or dry or wet condition. By adjustment ofthe guide bar 86, the output pattern of the jars, as they are deliveredfrom the machine, may be varied as required. As will be understood, onlya few jars are illustrated in the drawings, for clarity.

In Figs. 14-16 an embodiment is illustrated substantially similar tothat previously described, except that the transfer fingers experience apivotal as well as lateral motion. Referring to Fig. 14, it will be seenthat there is provided, in addition to the reciprocating finger supportbar 34a, corresponding in general function and purpose to the bar 34 inthe embodiment previously described, a fixed bar or finger supportmember as indicated at 200. This latter support bar extendslongitudinally of the conveyor belt I4, and is held in spaced relationthereabove by means of a pair of support brackets 202 and 204 suitablycarried by the frame of the machine.

As best shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the several transfer fingers asindicated at 36a, 62a, 64a and 6611 are each pivotally supported at oneend upon the fixed support bar 200 and suitably connected at theiropposite ends by bolt and slot connections to the reciprocating bar3401.. Thus referring for example to the support connections for thefinger 64a and its juxtaposed finger 36a, it will be seen that thesetransfer fingers are connected, respectively, to the bar 200 by pivotbolts 206 and 268; the fingers being provided at their opposite endswith bolts as indicated at 2 I and 2 I2 engageable within slots 2 I4 and2 I6 formed in the bar 34a.

By reason of the described connections, as the bar 34a is reciprocated,it will be seen that the several transfer fingers will be laterallyshifted at their ends against which the jars are initially engaged, suchlateral motion, however, being pivctal as well as lateral due to thepivot connecticns with the fixed support bar 260. In certain types ofjars, or other articles, a combined lateral and pivotal motion of thetransfer fingers, as set forth in the structure of Figs. 14-16, isdesirable.

In Figs. 1'7 and 18 a structure is illustrated incorporating meansspecifically adapted for the handling of articles such as containercans. In general, cans may with safety be subjected to a greater shockthan glass jars, and in certain instances greater capacity operationsmay be obtained, with cans, by the structures shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

In this instance, the conveyor belt I4 is maintained stationary, as byremoval of one of the pickoff drive gears I34-I38; the finger supportbar 34 and the fingers carried thereby are removed from the machinealong with the guide bar 86 and its support 88; and a can transfermechanism, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, applied to the end of themachine in abutting relation to the conveyor belt I4. Upon operation ofthe belt I2, as previously described, with the belt I4 stationary, thecans, such as indicated at 230, Fig. 18, will be fed by the conveyor I2across the conveyor I4 as a table surface and to the can transfermechanism now to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1'7 and 18, the can transfer mechanism comprises arotatable table 232 carried at the upper end of a drive shaft 234, thelower end of which carries a beveled drive gear 236. This gear mesheswith and is driven by a gear 238 carried by a stub shaft 240, the end ofwhich carries a chain sprocket 242. Sprocket 242 is arranged to bedriven by a chain 244 operated from an electric motor or other suitablepower source 246.

Coplanar with the rotatable table 232 there is provided a table surface248 across which the cans are propelled in their movement from theconveyor I2 to the rotating table structure. The table surface 248 isarranged so that it substantially abuts and lies slightly below the beltI4 when the can transfer mechanism is assembled into operative position.

To effect the accurate positioning of the table surface 248 in respectto the belt I4, it will be seen that the can transfer mechanism ismounted upon a frame structure 259, said frame structure being providedwith an extension arm 252 arranged for direct attachment to the framestruc ture II] by means of suitable securing bolts or the like.

To maintain the cans properly upon the rotatable table, there isprovided a wall structure 254 which extends circumferentially of thetable except for the 90 quadrant between the points designated by thenumerals 256 and 258, defining the inlet for the cans onto the table;and except for the point designated by the reference numeral 260 wherethe cans are ejected from the table into an outlet slide or chute 262.To maintain the cans properly upon the approach table 248, this table isprovided with a side wall structure 264, aligned with the side wallstructure previously described. There is further provided an angularlydisposed guide plate 266, suitably secured to the wall structure 254,this guide plate having its end juxtaposed to and abutting the oppositewall structure II! of the table I0.

Aswill be understood, the guide plate 286:; is spaced'slightly abovethebelt I2; socas not to interfere with theroperationzthereot.

Theoutlet: chute or channel'- 2 62 is: defined by a sidewall structureEfidtandlbyanarm Z'TO-adjiustably: maunted on the machine frame-at: oneend by-bolts: 212", and adjustably secured at: itsother end'teaframe-bracket 2 74 which extends over the edge of thetable and is spacedabove the surface thereof. By adjustment ofithe arm- 2 10 tothe rightor.left, as seen inF-ig518gxthesize of the outlet :chute 262=may beadjusted sa as to controlthe pattern'of the cans at the machine output.

The upper end of the table drive shaft 234; carries a pulley. 2 i6arranged to operate acrossed rope 2:78 which engages and drives arollerZ-Bfl rotatably'mo-untedin a jcurnal bracket at the end ofthe-arm 21d.Roller 3 %Wisverticallyelongated so that the lower end'thereof'isslightly spaced from the table surface- A tension roll ESQ- engages therope formaintaining' it taut.

ltLwill 'be seen-that inthe operation of the structure the presence ofthe cans, propelled-bythe belt i2, causes thecans to move across-- thebelt: M and 'the 'juxtaposed' tablesurface 248 ontothe=rotatablatable-232 Rotation of thetable moves the cansontothe-outertable surface, by centrifugal force, and thepressureof-"oncoming cans causes the ejection of -the cans at theouter marginofthe tablethrough the ejector chute 252 in the'desi-red single fi-lepattern to a receiving conveyor or other'receivingdevice. The pattern ofthe ejected cans may be controlledby adi- J'ustment of the arm 210-;-as-previously described. The roller 280 operates to prevent jamming ofthe cans-at the ejector station;

Referring to Figs. 19-21, a structural arrangement' is-illustratedwhich-may-in certaininstances bepreferred for securihg-a-multiplepattern .outputfor the articles handled. ltwill. be seen thatthe-structure is essentially the same as, that set.

forth in Figs. 1-13 except, that. certain of the transfer fingers, asindicated at 36b and 6217 are shorter than the remaining transfer.fingers as.

indicated at 3512,6 30 and sec; and two guide railscooperablerespectively with the different. groups of transfer fingersare provided.

More particularly, in additionito the guide railv 86, previouslydescribed, which is cooperabl'e with.

thefingers 38c, s leandfific; there is provided;

anadditionalguide" rail 30B supported by bolts.-

as indicated at 3132: These. bolts extend from. and are-supportedbyapiate or rail 304 positioned above thesu-pport rail88":andsupported'j by the.

same-frame brackets; The bolts 3132 provide re:- silient support for theguide railid'ilfi inthesame manner. as the bolts.96'iprevious1ydescribed, andone of'the bolts scam-3.2.11 electromagneticvibrator 308i associated..therewith..operable in. aiman ner similar tothe previously described vibrator:

I06. It. willvbe: seen. that the support bolts 392 are verticallypositioned so that they do not interfermwith: the-'iprogresstoi: thejars guided along the passage. 33Eebetweentheguide plates 86 and 388.

The jars ejected from betweenthe transfer fingcrs .3612. and. 62bpassalong. the passages 3lll:between the guide plate 309 and the guideplate/I92; previously.- described.

It, isbelieved that the operation of thestrueture tot-Figs. l92l, inview ofthe-foregoing; will be. clear. The arrangement. shown provides, adefinite multiple row pattern for the jars as they between the conveyorscomprising a group 1 of transfer members disposed to form a pl-uralityofparallel transfer passages between the conveyors,- said transfer membersbeing spaced to provide a single fil'e' trackfor the articlestherebetween and being inclined from the'infeed' to the dischargeconveyor in thedirection of movement of the discharge conveyor with thedischarge ends-ofthegroup-of transfer members positioned'with respect tothe discharge conveyor to position the articles for unimpeded singleline passage on the discharge conveyor, and'means for sl'iifting 'sai'd;

members-during operation of the machine to fa-- cilitate the passageofthe" articles through said passages.

2".'An article handlingmachine-as defined'in claim I; whereinsaid'transfer members-are shiftable transversely of the infeed conveyor.

3. An article handling machine comprisingan infeed'conveyor operablealong a predetermined axis, a discharge conveyor operable uponan axisdisposed substantially perpendicularly to the axis' of the infeedconveyor; and transfer mechanism for transferring articles between theconveyors comprisinga group of transfer members disposed to form aplurality of parall'el transfer'passage- Ways between the conveyors,said"transf'er"me1n-- bers being spaced'to provide a single filetrackfor' the articles therebetween and'being inclined from the infeedto the discharge'conveyorinthe" d i' reotion of movement of thedischarge conveyor with the discharge ends of the group of transfermembers positioned with respect to the discharge conveyor to positionthe articles for unimpeded; single'line passage on the dischargeconveyonand means for shifting said members transversely of? the infeed.conveyor during operation'of thermachi'neto. facilitate the passage ofthe articles. through said' passages.

4. An article handling machine comprisingxan endless-belt inf'eedconveyor, an endless belt dis-fchargeconveyor angularly disposedinrespectto the: infeed conveyor, and transfer-mechanism for transferring:articles between the conveyors: com prising a plurality oftransfermembers disposed to. form. av plurality 'ofparallel transferpassages betweenthe conveyors; said members bein -curved from theirrEeedi-conveyor towardithe direction. of.

movement of the discharge conveyor and provideing said transfer passagesof. equal width having their dischargeends: alignmentsubstantiallyaxially ofthe dischargeiconveyor, and means for. shiftingsaid members during operation ofthe: machine tofacilitate-the passageof'the articles throughsaid passages.

5=.= Anaarticle handling machine comprising; an

infzeclwconveyor, a discharge-conveyor operable in axdirecti'ontransversely of the infeed conveyor,

meansifor operating said conveyors; and transfermechanismlfortransferring articles between :tha conveyors. comprising-- agroup; of;transfermembers disposed to form a plurality of transfer passagesbetween the conveyors, said transfer members being spaced to provide asingle file track for the articles therebetween and being inclined fromthe infeed to the discharge conveyor in the direction of movement of thedischarge conveyor with the discharge ends of the group of transfermembers positioned with respect to the discharge conveyor to positionthe articles for unimpeded single line passage on the dischargeconveyor, means for shifting said members during operation of themachine to facilitate the passage of the articles through said passages,and means for varying the speed of operation of the shifting means inrespect to the speed of movement of the conveyors and for varying thespeed of operation of the conveyors in respect to each other.

6. An article handling machine comprising an infeed conveyor, adischarge conveyor angularly disposed in respect to the infeed conveyor,means for operating said conveyors, and transfer mechanism fortransferring articles between the conveyors comprising a plurality oftransfer members disposed to form a plurality of transfer passagesbetween the conveyors, each of said members being of decreasing widthand having an abutment surface overlying the infeed conveyor and acurved guiding surface overlying both conveyors and extending from theabutment surface in the direction of travel of the discharge conveyor.

7. An article handling machine comprising an infeed conveyor, adischarge conveyor angularly disposed in respect thereto, means foroperating said conveyors, and transfer mechanism for transferringarticles between the conveyors comprising a transfer member disposed toform a plurality of transfer passages between the conveyors, saidtransfer member having an abutment surface overlying the infeed conveyorand a pair of continuous curved guiding surfaces extending between theconveyors in the direction of movement of the discharge conveyor andconverging to a point overlying the discharge conveyor surface.

8. An article handling machine comprising an infeed conveyor, adischarge conveyor, and transfer mechanism for transferring articlesbetween the conveyors comprising a plurality of transfer membersdisposed to form a plurality of parallel transfer passages between theconveyors, said members having juxtaposed curved guiding surfacesdefining the side walls of said passages, the juxtaposed curved surfacesof adjacent transfer members being substantially arcuate and havingsubstantially the same center of curvature, and the opposed curvedsurfaces of each transfer member converging to a point overlying thedischarge conveyor surface.

9. An article handling machine as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtransfer members are shifted as a unit transversely of the infeedconveyor.

10. An article handling machine as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtransfer members are pivotally mounted, and are pivoted in unison bysaid shifting means.

11. An article handling machine comprising an infeed conveyor, adischarge conveyor operable in a direction transversely of the infeedconveyor, and transfer mechanism for transferring articles between theconveyors comprising a plurality of groups of transfer members overlyingsaid conveyors and disposed to form a plurality of parallel transferpassages therebetween, said transfer members being spaced to provide asingle file track for the articles therebetween and being inclined fromthe infeed to the discharge conveyor in the direction of movement of thedischarge conveyor with the discharge ends of each group of transfermembers positioned with respect to the discharge conveyor to positionthe articles from each group for unimpeded single line passage on thedischarge conveyor, the terminal points of one group of said transfermembers overlying the discharge conveyor being displaced in respect tothe terminal points of another group of said transfer members wherebythe articles are formed onto the discharge conveyor into a plurality ofparallel lines.

12. An article handling machine comprising an endless belt infeedconveyor, an endless belt discharge conveyor disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to the infeed conveyor and having one edge thereofsubstantially coincident with the terminal end of the infeed conveyor,the upper surfaces of said conveyors being substantially coplanar, meansfor operating the conveyors, and a transfer mechanism for transferringarticles between the conveyors compris ng a plurality of transfermembers suspended above the conveyors and. overlying the plane ofoperation thereof, each of said transfer members having an abutmentsurface overlying the infeed conveyor, and a pair of curved guidingsurfaces converging toward each other and extending from the abutmentsurface in the direction of travel of the discharge conveyor, saidtransfer members defining a plurality of parallel transfer passages ofsubstantially equal width extending between the conveyors.

13. An article handling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedischarge ends of the transfer members are disposed in alignmentsubstantially axially of the discharge conveyor, and a stop rail ispositioned along the discharge conveyor opposite the discharge ends ofsaid transfer members and spaced therefrom substantially the Width ofthe articles issuing therefrom.

14. An article handling machine comprising an endless belt infeedconveyor, an endless belt discharge conveyor disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to the infeed conveyor and positioned at the dischargeend thereof, a plurality of fixed abutment devices disposed in spacedrelation and overhanging the infeed conveyor, and a transfer mechanismfor transferring articles between the conveyors, said transfer mechanismcomprising a'plurality of transfer members disposed in spaced relationand overhanging the conveyors to form a plurality of parallel transferpassages therebetween, means for shifting said transfer members duringoperation of the machine, a guide rail extending along the dischargeconveyor for receiving the articles from the transfer members, and meansfor vibrating the guide rail.

WALLACE M. PARRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 646,469 Sleeper Apr. 3, 1900 744,874 Neeland Nov. 24, 19031,079,165 Conte Nov. 18, 1913 1,280,950 Bernheim Oct. 8, 1918 1,685,335Paterson Sept. 25, 1928 1,755,720 Winkler Apr. 22, 1930 2,351,801Baumann June 20, 1944

